Plow converter



H. H. WETZEL PLOW CONVERTER July 10, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1954 H. H. WETZEL PLOW CONVERTER July 10, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1954 N .Sk

Henry H. Wetzel INVENTOR.

9 BY wlawymw July 1o, 195e H. H. WETZELl PLOW CONVERTER Filed April 5, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O PLOW CONVERTER Henry H. Wetzel, Mattoon, lil.

Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 420,962

4 Claims. (Cl. 97-47.54)

This invention relates to a plow converter and more particularly to an attachment for mounting wheel type plows on a tractor.

An object of this invention is to provide a plow converter which will permit various sized plows to be attached to a tractor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plow converter which is provided with novel means vfor moving the plow from its operative to an inoperative position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a plow converter having novel means thereon for levelling the plows when pulling over uneven ground.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a plow converter having novel means thereon for preventing side sway of the plow.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a plow converter which is simple and eicient in construction, and durable and lasting in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View partly in section showing the improved plow converter forming the subject of this invention mounted on a tractor and having a plow assembly connected thereto;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along section line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plow converter forming the subject of this invention; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective View of the mounting member for the actuating means which raises and lowers the plow assembly.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that 'the improved plow converter forming the subject of this invention includes, as shown in Figure 4, a substantially rectangular frame formed of front and rear parallel members and 12, respectively, and side members 14 extending between opposite ends of the members 10 and 12. The member 10 is adapted to be positioned on a tractor forwardly of the rear axle housing and the member 12 is adapted to be positioned rearwardly thereof. Secured to the member 10 adjacent its mid-point and extending forwardly therefrom is an ear 16. The ear 16 is provided with an aperture 18 extending therethrough. The ear 16 is adapted to be connected to the draw bar 20 of a tractor 22. A pin 24 is adapted to be inserted through the aperture 18 in the ear 16 and an aperture in the draw bar 20 for securing the frame thereto.

Secured to the opposite ends of the member 12 and extending upwardly therefrom are a pair of angle shaped posts 26. The upper end of each post 26 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 28 which flanges ex- 2 tend toward each other. Secured to one of the flanges 28 and extending parallel to the side members 14 is a brace 30. The brace 30 extends toward the member 10 and is provided with an aperture 32 adjacent its free end. This brace 30 is adapted to lie closely adjacent the differential housing 34 of the tractor and to be secured thereto by means of a nut 36 passing through the aperture 32 and into the housing 34. The nut 36 can be one of the conventional nuts found on the tractor dierential housing. Thus, it will be seen that the rectangular frame is rigidly connected to the rear axle housing of the tractor.

Suitable brackets 38 may be secured to the posts 26 by means of bolts 40. The bolts 40 and brackets 38 are adapted to surround the axle housing 42 of the tractor. This bracket and bolt arrangement will aid in maintaining the frame in rigid position.

A pair of brackets 44 having opposite bifurcated ends which are transverse to each other are secured to the member 10 adjacent opposite ends thereof. The brackets 44 are secured to the member 10 for movement about a vertical axis. Suitable pins 46 extends through the brackets 44 and the member 10 for forming the pivotal connection thereof.

A pair of arms 48 are pivotally connected at one of their ends to the other bifurcated end of the brackets 44 by means of the pin 50. These arms 48 are adapted for a pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. Secured to the forward end of the arms 48 are a pair of operating links 512. The operating links 52 extend upwardly from the arms 48 and are provided at their upper ends with an internally threaded collar 54. The portion of the operating links S2 between the pivotal connection thereof to the arms 48 and the collar 54 is cut-away as at S6 for a purpose to be later described.

The flanges 28 are each provided with a vertically extending aperture adjacent their inner ends. Rotatably mounted within each of the apertures is a shaft 58. A pair of collars 68 is l'ixedly secured to each of the shafts 58 with one collar being disposed above the flanges 28 and the other collar being disposed below the flanges 28. These collars are provided for the rotatable mounting of the shafts 58. The lower ends of the shafts 58 are threaded as at 62 and are received in the collars S4. The upper ends of the shafts 58 are provided with offset crank handles 64 whereby rotation may be imparted to the shafts 58 for raising and lowering the operating links 52 and in turn the arms 48.

Secured to the connection of the operating links 52 to the arms 48 is a plate 66. The plate 66 extends rearwardly from the arms 48 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 68 adjacent one edge thereof. A suitable fastener 70 secures the plate 66, the arms 48 and operating links 52 together. A plow assembly comprising a pair of main beams 72y is adapted to beconnected at its forward end to the plate l66. Suitable bolts 74 pass through the apertures 68 in the plate 66 and through aligned apertures in the forward end of the main beams 72.

In order to more positively connect the forward ends of the main beams 72 together a U-shaped member 76 is provided for attachment to the bolts 74 and extending between the main beams 72.

Secured to the rear end of the main beams 72 is a plow assembly 78 of conventional construction. Further, an offset main beam 80 is provided on one of the main beams 72 and likewise supports a plow assembly 78. A rear wheel 82 is mounted on the main beam 80 for vertical adjustment with respect to the plow assembly. This wheel 82 regulates the depth to which the rear plow will penetrate the surface over which it is travelling.

With the device thus far described, it will be seen that when the plows are being drawn over uneven ground it may be desirable to tilt the assembly to cause all of the plows to dig into the ground the same distance. In such a case, the operator of the tractor will grasp the desired handle 64 and rotate the shaft for raising or lowering the desired side of the plow assembly.

In order to raise and lower the plow assembly between an inoperative and operative position there is provided means on the frame for connection to the tractor and to the plow assembly for accomplishing this result. This means comprises an ear 84 mounted on one of the brackets 38. Pivotally secured to the ear 84 means of a pin S6 are a pair of arms S8. The free ends of the arms S8 are connected together by means of a pin 9%. Also secured to the pin 90 and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom is a brace member 92. The brace member 92 is adapted to be connected to the upper portion of the bracket 38 by means of the bolt 4i? passing through an aperture 94 in the free end of the brace 92. Also secured to one of the arms 88 adjacent the pin 95B by means of a suitable fastener 96 is a brace 93 which extends from the arms 88 toward the tractor 22. The free end of the brace 93 is provided with an aperture 160 extending therethrough through which is inserted a suitable fastener 102 for securing the brace to the tractor. Thus, it will be seen that the arms 83 will be rigidly mounted in -position on the tractor 22.

Pivotally secured at one end to the pin 9i) is a hydraulic cylinder 1114. The hydraulic cylinder is of conventional construction and is provided with the conventional piston rod 106 extending therefrom. A suitable exible conduit 108 connects one end of the cylinder 164 with a source of hydraulic Huid under pressure.

A link 110 is pivotally secured adjacent its mid-*Joint by means of a fastener 112 to one of the posts 26. The piston rod 106 is connected at its free end to the lower end of the link 11G by means of a suitable fastener 114. Secured to the other end of the link 110 by means of a conventional fastener 116 passing through an aperture 11S in the upper end of the link 110 is a pair of arms 120. The arms 120 are provided at their free ends with a plurality of aligned apertures 122. One end of an arm 124 is adapted to be positioned between the free ends of the arms 120 and is provided with an aperture which is adapted to be aligned with the apertures 122 in the arms 120. A suitable fastener 126 is adapted to extend through the aligned apertures for securing the arm 124 in position on the arms 120. The other end of the arm 124 is pivotally secured to a bracket 128 which is mounted on one of the main beams 72. A suitable fastener 130 secures the arm 124 to the bracket 123. Thus, it will be seen that when pressure is applied to the cylinder forcing the piston rod therefrom the link 110 will be pivoted about the fastener 112 and will cause the arms 120 and 124 to raise the plow assembly to an inoperative position. The reverse operation will take place when the pressure uid is exhausted from the end of the cylinder.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to the unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A plow converter for attaching a plow assembly to a tractor, said converter comprising an open, rectangular frame adapted to underlie the tractor rear axle housing, means on the front end of the frame for engaging the tractor drawbar, a pair of posts extending upwardly from the rear corners of said frame, clamp means attached to the front surfaces of said posts for engagement with spaced portions of the axle housing, a pair of arms each having a front end attached for independent vertical pivoting movement on the front end of said frame and extending rearwardly to a position adjacent the lower ends of said posts, operating links pivotally secured to the rear ends of said arms and each extending upwardly adjacent the posts, and manually operated adjusting means connected between the upper end of each operating link and its corresponding post, the rear ends of the arms being adapted for connection to the hitch bars of the plow assembly whereby elevational and tilting movements of the plow assembly are effected by operation of the adjusting means.

2. The structure as defined in claim l wherein hitch plates are provided on the rear ends of said arms for rigid securement to the hitch bars of the plow assembly, said hitch bars being pivotally attached to the pivot means between the arms and the operating links.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the adjusting means for each operating link comprises a screw member rotatably mounted in the upper end of each post, an operating handle at the upper end of the screw member and a threaded collar on the upper end of each operating link, the link being axially slotted to accommodate the lower portion of the screw member.

4. The structure as set forth in claim l, wherein fur ther means are provided for raising the plow assembly to inoperative position, said means comprising an actuating member attached to and extending forwardly of the front end of said frame, a link pivoted at its central portion to one of said posts, said actuating member being connected to the lower end of the link and adjustable means for connecting the upper end of the link to the plow assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,477,994 Love Aug. 2, 1949 2,496,760 Watson Feb. 7, 1950 2,618,212 Hedquist et al Nov. 18, 1952 2,674,171 Metz et al. Apr. 6, 1954 

